HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Conan O'Brien's rep is shooting down reports that the late-night host plans to walk away from the Tonight Show next week.
"Not true," his rep tells Us Weekly. "He has a scheduled hiatus the week of Jan. 25."
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Conan O'Brien's rep is shooting down reports that the late-night host plans to walk away from the Tonight Show next week.
"Not true," his rep tells Us Weekly. "He has a scheduled hiatus the week of Jan. 25."
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Conan O'Brien took the gloves off Wednesday night in his battle against NBC and Jay Leno specifically.
O'Brien, who has slammed NBC's plan to move his Tonight Show back a half hour to accommodate Leno's return to late night, took aim at his fellow network counterpart during his monologue Wednesday night.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Conan O'Brien's fate has come down to an abbreviated game of Deal or No Deal.
On Tuesday's Tonight Show, the embattled talk-show host was joined by Howie Mandel, who presented O'Brien with several options as he weighs NBC's proposed late-night shuffle.
"This is exciting. This is a huge move for me," O'Brien said as he prepared to make his decision. "I can't believe it's come down to this ... this makes about as much sense as anything else these days."
LOS ANGELES — Conan O'Brien isn't going down without a good fight.
The 46-year-old Tonight Show host took a stand Tuesday after NBC announced plans over the weekend to juggle their late-night schedule. The network wants to reduce the Jay Leno Show to a hour hour and move it to 11:35, bumping O'Brien back after midnight in a shuffle he's not willing to endorse.
"In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me," wrote O'Brien in a statement directed to the "People of Earth." "For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
"Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
"But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
"Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
"So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.
"There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
"Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way."
When asked if O'Brien's hard stance is a negotiating ploy, veteran producer and manager Gavin Polone told the Los Angeles Times that the statement has nothing to do with "strategy and contracts."
"This came from the heart," Palone said."It's him expressing his feelings; there is nothing else behind it."
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Conan O'Brien may have been injured on the job, but now he's turning his bruises into a viral video.
The 46-year-old comedian was injured Friday when he hit his head while taping a stunt for the "Tonight Show." O'Brien fell during a bit that was meant to poke fun at guest Teri Hatcher's recent triathlon.
"As many of you may know, on this past Friday's show I was doing a stunt and I hit my head and suffered a slight concussion. And I promise, if you're a good audience, I'll do it again tonight," O'Brien joked during Monday's telecast.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Andy Richter and Conan O'Brien are reuniting for some more late-night fun.
The 42-year-old Richter will serve as the announcer when O'Brien takes over hosting duties for NBC's "Tonight Show" on June 1, the network announced Tuesday.
The collaboration will serve as a reunion for the pair, who worked together for seven years on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" before Richter left the show on May 26, 2000.
